News

Newly introduced bills at a glance

By The Associated Press

Posted:
02/23/2013 11:04:30 AM PST

Updated:
02/23/2013 11:04:31 AM PST

Highlights from the 1,376 bills introduced this year in the Assembly and the 813 introduced in the Senate:

— Possessing condoms could not be used as evidence against someone suspected of prostitution under a bill from Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco. Supporters said AB336 would encourage safe-sex practices. Law enforcement officers could still use other factors, such as someone being in a known prostitution area or possession of sex toys, in pursuing charges.

— AB65 would close a legal loophole brought to light by a January state Court of Appeals ruling that overturned a rape conviction. The measure from Democratic Assembly Speaker John Perez and Republican Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, who introduced a similar proposal last year, would expand the definition of rape to include cases in which the perpetrator impersonates the victim's partner.

— The state's homeless population would be empowered under AB5, dubbed the "Homeless Bill of Rights." It would give legal protections for people to carry out "life sustaining activities" such as eating, storing personal property and urinating in public spaces. Bill sponsor Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, says homeless residents face daily discrimination for carrying out their lives.

A similar proposal passed the Assembly in 2010 but failed in the Senate. Several dozen cities throughout the state already have enacted local bans on use of plastic bags.

— Unused money set aside to help veterans buy homes could be redirected to other veterans' services under AB639. The legislation from Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, would retain $500 million from the 2008 Veterans Bond Act for single-family homes, while allowing other money to be used for job training, mental health treatment or programs aimed at reducing homelessness.

— A new state law allowing driver's licenses to be issued to some illegal immigrants with a work permit could be expanded under AB60. The measure from Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, would allow licenses to be issued to any illegal immigrants who can show they pay taxes.

— State and local government could not initially request criminal background information on those seeking employment under a proposal from Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento. His office says one in four adult Californians has an arrest or conviction record. Under AB109, their criminal history could be requested only after the employer determines they meet other job requirements.

— Several measures proposed in the Assembly aim to broaden online privacy safeguards for consumers. One from Isadore Hall, D-Los Angeles, AB257, would require developers of mobile-phone applications to disclose their privacy policies and establish procedures for guarding identifying information. Another from Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, AB844, would address protecting information of those who make online purchases with a credit card.

— A package of bills would offer more protection to women who are the victims of violence. Four bills from Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Nora Campos, D-San Jose, would, among other provisions, double the maximum time period for restraining orders against sex offenders and make it a crime to steal the online identity of a domestic violence victim.

— Pregnant women could claim their unborn child as a dependent during the tax year in which they are carrying the child. Under AB673 from Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, a woman could claim a $321 child income tax deduction for their expected son or daughter.

— At least three proposed Assembly bills seek to update rules for oil and gas drilling within the state. The growth of hydraulic fracturing—a process that releases oil reserves trapped within shale rock beneath central and southern California—has led to calls for more oversight of how wastewater is disposed (AB669) and tougher permitting requirements (AB288). Another measure, AB7, would require disclosure of the chemicals used, public notice before fracking begins and a report by 2016 on statewide use of fracking.

— Those making false 911 calls would face harsher penalties under a measure from Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. The measure, SB333, targets making false emergency calls, known as "swatting." Prank calls have been reported recently in the Los Angeles area regarding intruders in the homes of celebrities.

— Social workers would be required to make their monthly check-in visit at a foster child's home under SB342. The measure from Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, would amend a current law that allows those visits to occur outside the home. A related bill, SB343, would ensure foster children have the identifying documents, such as a birth certificate, that are needed for college and job applications.

— It would be a felony for a parolee to remove the monitoring device from their ankle under a measure from Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. Under existing law, removing the device is a parole violation that can result in county jail time, which supporters of SB57 say is not enough of a deterrent.

— Multiple measures seek to prevent child abuse in the wake of reported misconduct in the Los Angeles Unified School District. SB160 by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, would create a statewide tracking system for school employees dismissed due to a child abuse investigation. Another measure, SB10 by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, would allow school administrators to suspend or terminate a teacher for sexual misconduct, violence or drug abuse.

— Complicated state labor laws could be updated so employees could negotiate alternative work schedules with their employers under SB607. The measure from Sen. Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, would allow for work days of up to 10 hours within a 40-hour workweek.